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cnbc.com
New fees, fewer flights: Higher fuel prices pinch consumer budgets beyond the gas pump
As corporate policies change, Americans will feel higher oil prices in their pocketbooks beyond the gas pump.
cnbc.com
How the big oil and gas CEOs think the Iran war supply disruption will play out
The oil industry's grim outlook for global oil and gas supplies stands in contrast to the Trump administration's promise that the disruption is short term.
cnbc.com
Yemen's Houthis launch Israel strike, the first time since the U.S.-Israel war began
The entry of the Houthis in the war marks a significant escalation in the conflict as it enters its second month.
cnbc.com
How Chinese, Russian Arctic ambitions are fueling a U.S. polar icebreaker mission
China and Russia have a big lead in efforts to control once impenetrable Arctic waters. The U.S. is spending billions on new icebreakers in a race to catch up.
theguardian.com
‘Canadians don’t want to come here any more’: anger over Trump squeezes US border businesses
Shops and restaurants once bustling with tourists now struggle for survival as Canadians think twice about crossing the borderOn a warm March weekend in the American border town of Lewiston, New York, bakery owner Aimee Loughran is putting the finishing touches on a special order: a state trooper badge-shaped cake for a local officer’s retirement party.It should be the last task of a busy Saturday at her Just Desserts shop, which sits just 20 minutes north of the rushing waters of Niagara Falls. Dotted with cafes, restaurants and historic buildings from the 1800s, the Lewiston strip is usually catnip for tourists, including the Canadians whose homes can be seen from the banks of the nearby Niagara River. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Firms with more women in top roles more likely to dismiss abusive men, study finds
IFS analysis also finds male-managed companies were more likely to have victim of abuse leave companyCompanies who employ more women in senior roles are much more likely to dismiss men accused of sexually or physically abusing their colleagues, according to analysis of international and UK data.Men were more likely to get sacked for abusing a male colleague rather than a female colleague, according to a recent Finnish study, cited in research about the economic impact of violence against women and girls gathered by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Continue reading...
theguardian.com
These CEOs want a starring role in our lives – and there’s not much we can do about it | Larry Ryan
Do we really need a McDonald’s CEO fronting ads or a Gianni Infantino Panini sticker? No. But in the age of Trump, the boss class feels emboldenedA few weeks ago, the CEO of McDonald’s appeared in a video sampling the chain’s new “Big Arch burger”. In the clip, Chris Kempczinski, or “Chris K” as he casually calls himself, labelled it a “product”, matching the sterile tone of the review – all harsh lighting, corporate office backdrop and an awkward man talking and eating while wearing a shirt fitting uneasily under a light wool V-neck.Why would McDonald’s, with its huge marketing budget and commercial success, choose to platform this guy? His stilted efforts were mocked and memed, with executives at Burger King and Wendy’s posting their own versions – what fun. Inevitably some market watchers claimed it drove engagement and sales. But to me, it seems to be just the latest flagrant example of CEOism: when CEOs/founders/heads of organisations centre themselves in the action – just because they can.Larry Ryan is a freelance writer and editor Continue reading...
bbc.com
City's electronic music venues struggling despite growth
Social media posts claimed Newcastle's scene was thriving, but venues claim it is not the case.
bbc.com
Service charges coming under government scrutiny
People across the West explain how the charges on their buildings are affecting their finances.
theguardian.com
Hundreds of North Sea licences granted by Conservatives have ‘so far produced only 36 days worth of gas’
Exclusive: Findings cast doubt on claims new drilling would help cut bills and boost energy security, researchers sayHundreds of licences granted for new oil and gas projects in the North Sea under the Conservatives have so far produced only 36 days’ worth of gas, according to analysis.Research by the energy consultancy Voar and the campaign group Uplift found that between 2010 and 2024, the government handed out hundreds of new North Sea oil and gas licences in seven licensing rounds. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK ‘weeks away’ from medicine shortages if Iran war continues, experts say
Concern that supply chain disruption could hit health essentials – and prices – from painkillers to cancer treatmentMiddle East crisis – live updatesBritain is “a few weeks away” from medicine shortages ranging from painkillers to cancer treatment if the Iran war continues, according to experts, while drug prices could also rise.The conflict has disrupted the supply of a myriad of crucial raw materials, including oil, gas, crop fertiliser and helium – and health essentials could be next. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
End to two-child benefit cap offers £300-a-month lifeline to cash-strapped families
From 6 April, low-income families can claim universal credit payments for all children living in the householdThe two-child benefit policy has been described as a “cap on childhood” and as it comes to an end, Claire* hopes to throw a birthday party for her son.It is a celebration most children may take for granted, but Claire and her partner run out of money at the end of every month, skipping meals so that their three children can eat. Her son, now in his final year at primary school, has never had a party. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Free prom hire boutique set up for two schools
Mia, a student, says it will lesson the burden on anyone spending hundreds of pounds on a dress.
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
How will energy crisis hit Ireland's economy?
Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said Ireland's economy enters the crisis from a position of "relative strength".
theguardian.com
‘The era of invincibility is over’: the week big tech was brought to heel
Ruling that Meta and YouTube deliberately designed addictive products marks possible watershed moment for social mediaThe young woman at the heart of what has been called the tech industry’s “big tobacco” moment was on YouTube at six and Instagram by nine. More than a decade later, she says, she still can’t live without the social media she became addicted to.“I can’t, it’s too hard to be without it,” Kaley, now 20, told a jury at Los Angeles’ superior court. This week, five men and seven women handed down a verdict on the design of two of the world’s most popular apps that vindicated Kaley’s position. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How Trump and the oil markets move in sync: a tango in five charts
Oil markets have been sensitive to Donald Trump's comments on the war. But are traders growing less responsive?
cnbc.com
Tech stocks suffer worst week in nearly a year, driven down by war worries, Meta legal woes
Meta's twin legal defeats this week and a big sell-off in Micron spurred a drop in technology stocks, which were broadly hit by rising oil prices.
cnbc.com
Epstein victims sue Google and the Trump administration over alleged disclosure of personal information
A lawsuit filed in Northern California alleges that Google's AI features generated contact information for Epstein victims.
cnbc.com
Oil prices close at highest level since 2022 as Iran negotiations fail to ease supply fears
Oil prices traded higher after U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran had allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
theguardian.com
Sony to hike PS5 prices by $100 as AI and Iran war push up memory chip costs
Updated prices of PlayStation 5 consoles to go into effect on 2 April as electronics makers face rising cost pressuresSony is raising global prices of its PlayStation 5 consoles, including a $100 increase in the US, marking its second hike in less than a year as the entertainment giant grapples with rising costs of key components such as memory chips.The tech industry’s race to build out artificial intelligence infrastructure has pushed memory makers to favor higher-margin datacenter chips, tightening supply for consumer devices like the ones Sony sells. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Lloyds bank faces £66m court battle with car loan customers
Law firm is preparing claim on behalf of 30,000 consumers who fear the FCA’s redress scheme will shortchange themLloyds Banking Group is facing a court battle with 30,000 aggrieved car loan customers who are to abandon the City regulator’s official redress scheme amid fears it will shortchange consumers and favour lenders.The claims law firm Courmacs Legal is planning to file a £66m omnibus claim on behalf of borrowers who believe they were financially harmed by car loan contracts set up by Lloyds’ motor finance arm, Black Horse. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Asda boss rejects profiteering claims as petrol price tops 150p
Motorists are facing higher fuel prices ahead of Easter break due to the conflict in the Middle East, the RAC says.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on social media in the dock: tech bros move fast – society is trying to catch up | Editorial
Two court cases have shown how companies can be forced to take responsibility for their impact on public healthDebate about online harms has tended to focus on abusive and hateful content. But the form in which content is delivered is at least as important. That point is central to this week’s momentous decisions against Meta and YouTube, by two US juries. It will take more than these cases to loosen big tech’s tight grip on much of the world’s attention. But the fact that both companies were found liable in California, for deliberately designing addictive products that harmed a child, is a massive win for the coalition of campaigners aiming to use the US courts to force the platforms to change their products.The second case against Meta, in New Mexico, found it liable over the use of Facebook and Instagram for child sex trafficking, with a Guardian investigation cited in the complaint. The jury ordered it to pay $375m in civil liabilities; the state’s attorney general is seeking platform changes and financial penalties.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
1.4 million filers face tax refund delays amid IRS paper check phaseout
Many filers are facing tax refund delays amid the IRS push to phase out paper checks. Here's what to know if you receive a CP53E notice.
theguardian.com
UK government borrowing costs hit 5% as Iran war fuels bond market sell-off
Yields on 10-year debt reach highest since the 2008 financial crisis, raising concerns of faster interest rate risesMiddle East crisis – live updatesUK government borrowing costs have risen above 5% amid an intensifying global bond market sell-off fuelled by the Iran war.The yield – or interest rate – on 10-year debt hit its highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, rising 13 basis points to 5.081%, as investors acted on concerns about the economic fallout from the conflict. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Novartis shells out $2 billion for immunology biotech Excellergy, in second multi-billion dollar deal in a week
The Swiss pharma giant is betting on a next-generation allergy treatment that may prove to work faster and better than anything currently on the market.
cnbc.com
AstraZeneca stock jumps after surprise trial win for lung disease drug where rivals have failed
The experimental drug reduced flare-ups for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Astra said Friday.
theguardian.com
Asda warns of ‘temporary shortages’ at some petrol pumps amid Iran war
Comments from boss Allan Leighton come as squeeze on supplies drives average UK petrol price above 150p a litreBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of Asda has warned of “temporary shortages’” at petrol pumps as supplies are squeezed by the conflict in the Middle East, which has driven up average UK petrol prices to above 150p a litre.Allan Leighton, the executive chair of the supermarket chain, which is the UK’s second largest fuel retailer, said it had been experiencing high demand from drivers as fuel prices have jumped about over the past four weeks since the war started. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Five Guys CEO says he gave a $1.5m bonus to his workers so he wouldn’t get shot in the back
Jerry Murrell seemingly alluded to healthcare CEO killing when he explained giving bonus to workers after bungled promotionSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxFive Guys’ chief executive officer, Jerry Murrell, said he gave a $1.5m bonus to employees of his US-based burger restaurant chain because “I didn’t want anybody shooting me” after the company recently “screwed … up” a buy-one-get-one-free promotion.Murrell did not elaborate on the comment, which he gave to Fortune in an interview published on Wednesday – but it came a little more than a year after the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead on a midtown Manhattan street in what was widely considered a murderous rebuke of the US health insurance industry’s profit-driven practices. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
European stocks close lower as Trump extends Iran strike hiatus and G7 ministers meet
European stocks close lower as Trump extends Iran strike hiatus and G7 ministers meet
cnbc.com
Beijing's surprise intervention on Meta's Manus rattles tech founders, VCs eyeing 'China shedding'
Beijing's review has fueled concerns and confusion among Chinese tech founders and investors that had quietly embraced the so-called "Singapore-washing" model.
theguardian.com
Italy investigates beauty brands over concerns about young girls’ mental health
Regulator fears use of ‘covert marketing strategies’ by Sephora and Benefit might fuel compulsive habits Italian regulators are investigating Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics over the apparent use of “covert marketing strategies” to sell beauty products to young girls that might be fuelling an unhealthy skincare obsession known as “cosmeticorexia”.The Italian Competition Authority said it was looking into promotions for skincare products such as face masks, serums and anti-ageing creams that in some cases appeared to target girls under 10. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Italy investigates Sephora and Benefit over skincare marketing to children
Italy's competition authority said the LVMH-owned cosmetic brands Sephora and Benefit used an "insidious marketing strategy" to appeal to tween consumers.
cnbc.com
Gulf markets are splintering as the Iran war continues. Here's what to know
Investors are grappling with sharp divergence across the Gulf's markets, as the Iran conflict drives asset volatility in the region.
cnbc.com
Sony hikes PS5 prices by up to $150 citing 'pressures' in global economy
Sony, like other console makers, is contending with surging memory chip prices which have forced the company to raise prices.
cnbc.com
Iran war wipes out $100 billion from luxury stocks
Dubai in the UAE has been the biggest driver of growth in recent years, and the Middle East tensions come at a critical time in the luxury industry.
cnbc.com
Elon Musk’s Grok ordered to stop creating AI nudes by Dutch court as legal pressure mounts
A Dutch court issued a $115,000 penalty for every day xAI fails to remove non-consensual AI-generated nude images created by its chatbot Grok.
theguardian.com
‘Tempolimit? Nein, danke!’: why German petrolheads won’t slow down – despite the energy crisis
Driving fast is in ‘the German DNA’, say lovers of the speed-limit free Autobahn, but support in the country for a restriction is growingDeath-defying thrills are not what draws Lutz Leif Linden to zip down the Autobahn faster than a plane taking off. Instead, the feeling of freedom and an appreciation of technological mastery play a part in his “almost loving relationship” with driving cars faster than most people can imagine.The top speed he has reached on the road in Germany, the world’s only democracy without a blanket speed limit on motorways, is 400km/h (249mph). “It’s like an airplane,” said Linden, the president of the Automobile Club of Germany (AvD). “You are faster than an Airbus at start.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
How the Iran war may affect your money and bills
The conflict in the Middle East has increased pressure on the cost of petrol, household energy bills and even food.
cnbc.com
What comes next? Three attack scenarios as U.S. sends thousands more troops to Middle East
One of Iran's top lawmakers has said that they were anticipating a potential ground invasion of one its islands.
bbc.com
'Ripple of fear' over Iran war hits consumer confidence
A key survey indicates growing doubt among shoppers over prospects for the UK economy in the next year.
theguardian.com
Number of AI chatbots ignoring human instructions increasing, study says
Exclusive: Research finds sharp rise in models evading safeguards and destroying emails without permissionAI models that lie and cheat appear to be growing in number with reports of deceptive scheming surging in the last six months, a study into the technology has found.AI chatbots and agents disregarded direct instructions, evaded safeguards and deceived humans and other AI, according to research funded by the UK government-funded AI Security Institute (AISI). The study, shared with the Guardian, identified nearly 700 real-world cases of AI scheming and charted a five-fold rise in misbehaviour between October and March, with some AI models destroying emails and other files without permission. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
The Tech Download: How Russia could profit from Iran war helium supply chain disruption in the chip sector
Helium has emerged as a key focus for the tech sector as industry watchers cast their minds to the implications of a prolonged Iran war.
bbc.com
Just Eat and Autotrader among firms investigated in fake reviews probe
The UK's competition watchdog says it is looking at five firms in its investigation into misleading online reviews.
theguardian.com
The new Trump coin will have an eagle on the back. Here are some better options | Dave Schilling
The real defining image of this presidency should be the bank statement of the average American citizenShockingly, inexplicably, Donald Trump keeps finding new places to put his face. Also, his name. Or initials. Or one of those drawings of a turkey a kid does by tracing the outline of their hand. He’s got his ballroom, the Kennedy Center and a proposed 250ft arch that would become one of the tallest buildings in all of Washington DC – a city with longstanding height restrictions for development. His signature will be on US dollars later this year, in a first for a sitting president. I’d ask if he was getting tired of all the attention, but I think we know the answer to that. Up next is a commemorative gold coin – worth exactly $1 – featuring Trump’s scowling visage looming menacingly over the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.It’s a pretty classic Trump pose, designed to make a nearly-80-year-old man with a variety of mystery bruises who eats McDonald’s on a regular basis look physically intimidating. Beyond the president sporting a classic gen Z pout, the Commission of Fine Arts (a panel appointed by You Know Who) recommended this coin be “as large as possible”, which immediately makes me think of the giant penny Bruce Wayne keeps in the Batcave. Good luck trying to feed a parking meter with that.Dave Schilling is a Los Angeles-based writer and humorist Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK car production falls 17% as industry warns of ‘worrying’ decline
Weak demand and global trade pressures hit ouput, with energy price rises expected to bring further dropBusiness live – latest updatesFewer cars rolled off UK production lines in February in what the industry called an “extremely worrying” slump even before the impact of the Iran war was felt.Vehicle production was 17% lower last month on the same period in 2025, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, as exports dropped sharply. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
‘All bets are off’: European borrowing costs hit 15-year highs as investors brace for rate hikes
Bonds issued by various European countries continued to sell off on Friday, deepening a rout that has been mostly continuous since the U.S.-Iran war began.
theguardian.com
Almost half a million Lloyds customers had personal data exposed in IT glitch
Letter from group published by MPs blames 12 March glitch on software update to its mobile banking appsLloyds Banking Group exposed the personal data of nearly 500,000 customers in an IT glitch that left people’s payments, account details and national insurance numbers visible to other users, a committee of MPs has revealed.A letter from Lloyds, published by MPs on the Treasury select committee on Friday, blamed the glitch on a software defect introduced during an IT update to its Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland mobile banking apps overnight into 12 March. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Lloyds bank reveals IT glitch affected almost half a million customers
In a letter to the Treasury Select Committee, Lloyds apologised and said some compensation had been paid.
cnbc.com
Ukraine, Saudi Arabia sign defense deal as U.S. reportedly weighs redirecting Kyiv aid
Zelenskyy met Gulf leaders to seek support for Kyiv as the U.S. reportedly weigh diverting military resources to the Middle East.
cnbc.com
U.S. ambassador to EU: Stop fining Big Tech
Andrew Puzder sat down for an interview with CNBC's Ian King.
theguardian.com
Five firms including Autotrader and Just Eat investigated over fake review failings
CMA also looks into Pasta Evangelists, funeral operator Dignity and review company Feefo in latest crackdownI was paid to write fake Google reviews – then my ‘bosses’ tried to scam meBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK competition watchdog has launched investigations into five companies including Autotrader and Just Eat over concerns they have not done enough to tackle fake and misleading online reviews.The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which has previously investigated the tech companies Amazon and Google, said its latest crackdown includes the funeral services operator Dignity, the review company Feefo and the restaurant chain Pasta Evangelists. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
India takes a ‘huge hit’ on tax revenue to keep fuel prices from surging during the Iran war
India takes a huge tax revenue hit as it cuts fuel excise duties to shield consumers from soaring oil prices caused by the Iran war.
cnbc.com
Foreign investors pull a record $12 billion from Indian stocks, sparked by Iran war
Foreign investors are pulling out a record $12 billion from Indian equities as the Iran conflict drives up energy costs and raises doubts on economic growth.
theguardian.com
I was paid to write fake Google reviews – then my ‘bosses’ tried to scam me
Undercover reporter gets a taste of the sprawling fraud industry in which cryptocurrencies play a crucial roleFive firms including Autotrader and Just Eat investigated over fake review failingsThe holiday flat near(ish) the Roman ruins of Pompeii was “disgusting”, and smelled of “a mix of dampness and sewage”, according to one reviewer on Google Maps. I never visited, but I gave it five stars.I did the same for a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel across the River Thames, an Ibis budget hotel in east London that is part of the Accor group, a central Travelodge and the nearby Hyatt Place – some of the best-known hotel brands in the world. Scattered in there were requests for reviews for hostels and B&Bs in Genova, Naples, Maastricht, Krakow and Brussels. For a few days I had a new job: writing fake reviews on Google Maps in exchange for cryptocurrency. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Governments controlling prices? It has long been unthinkable – but may now be inevitable | Andy Beckett
In Mexico and Spain, leaders who have capped public costs have been rewarded at the ballot box. As another cost of living surge arrives, it may be a policy our leaders are unable to resist Politicians are not supposed to meddle with prices. Even though much of politics is about whether voters can afford things – especially in an era of recurring inflationary shocks – ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union’s planned economy four decades ago, the orthodoxy across much of the world has been that only markets should decide what things cost.As the hugely influential Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek argued, in a complex modern society, information is too dispersed among potential sellers and buyers of goods or services for government to make informed and correct decisions about the prices of those goods. Hence, his disciples say, the inefficiency of state-run economies, from post-colonial Africa to the eastern bloc.Andy Beckett is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Loft-style apartments for sale in England – in pictures
From a former wartime ‘shadow factory’ in London to converted country mansion in Yorkshire, homes with open living Continue reading...
theguardian.com
In Thailand’s rice paddies, rising petrol prices spell chaos for farmers
Farmers need fuel to keep water pumps running, but many petrol stations are empty and fears are now growing over the war’s impact on cost of fertiliserFollow our live coverage of the events in the Middle East hereThanadet Traiyot waited in line for hours at his local gas station, armed with containers and desperately hoping to secure much-needed diesel for his rice fields in Ayutthaya, central Thailand. He was third in the queue when the shop announced their supplies had run dry. That was five days ago; he still hasn’t managed to restock to his normal levels.Back on his farm, Thanadet wades into his rice paddies, weaving past tall green stalks to assess the water levels and decide which of his water pumps can be turned off. Water needs to be spread equally across the fields, he says, but he doesn’t have enough diesel to keep everything running. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Panic buying prompts PM to reassure Australians over fuel supply
Anthony Albanese says nation's supply remains "secure" amid reports of panic buying and shortages.
cnbc.com
Private credit's cracks open door for Wall Street banks' comeback: 'The tug of war is just starting'
Wall Street banks may finally be getting a long-awaited opening to claw back market share from private credit lenders.
theguardian.com
Ed Miliband’s stock is rising because he’s a rare commodity in Labour these days: a thinker | Gaby Hinsliff
The party seems to have woken up to its need for an old-style intellectual heavyweight to counter the vacuousness of recent yearsNature famously abhors a vacuum. So when Morgan McSweeney departed government, leaving a hole where much of Keir Starmer’s thinking used to be, it was always going to be filled eventually. And increasingly, that filling looks Ed Miliband-shaped.The energy secretary’s influence has visibly grown in recent weeks, and not just because of a spiralling energy crisis in the Gulf. The idea that he is the real prime minister now – the one supposedly calling the shots over everything from whether Britain should join the war on Iran to how far it should pursue its “fatwa against fossil fuels”, as Michael Gove, the former Tory minister turned Spectator editor-in-chief, huffed recently – is on one level just another attempt by the opposition to humiliate Starmer, painting him as a lame-duck leader pushed around by underlings. But if the truth is a bit more nuanced than that, there’s no denying Miliband has grown in stature of late.Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnistGuardian Newsroom: Can Labour come back from the brink?On Thursday 30 April, join Gaby Hinsliff, Zoe Williams, Polly Toynbee and Rafael Behr as they discuss how much of a threat Labour faces from the Green party and Reform UK – and whether Keir Starmer can survive as leader. Book tickets here Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Is Trump losing it? (the war of course) – podcast
Donald Trump says the US has won its war with Iran. Iranian officials responded to this by mocking him.This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Susan Glasser of the New Yorker about analysis suggesting Trump is losing his touch when it comes to sealing the deal, winning elections or just having the energy to run the White HouseArchive: NBC News, CNN, Bloomberg Television, ABC News, BBC News Continue reading...
theguardian.com
What was Doge? How Elon Musk tried to gamify government – podcast
Steeped in gaming and rightwing culture wars, Musk and his team of teenage coders set out to defeat the enemy of the United States: its peopleBy Ben Tarnoff and Quinn Slobodian. Read by Vincent Lai Continue reading...
bbc.com
Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube's defeat in landmark social media addiction trial
A woman has been awarded $6m in a verdict that could have implications for hundreds of other cases in the US.
bbc.com
How the Hormuz closure could affect food, medicines and smartphones
The price of a wide range of goods - from food, to smartphones, to medicines - could be affected by the US-Israel war with Iran.
bbc.com
Judge rejects Pentagon's attempt to 'cripple' Anthropic
A federal judge told the government it could not immediately enforce a ban on Anthropic’s tools.
theguardian.com
‘Accountability has arrived’: dual US court losses show shifting tide against Meta and co
With two unprecedented trial defeats, big tech firms face crisis akin to that faced by cigarette makers in the 1990sIn the span of just two days, the most powerful social media company in the world faced a more severe public reckoning than it has in years.Jurors in California and New Mexico gave back-to-back verdicts this week that for the first time ever found Meta liable for products that inflict harm on young people. For years, lawmakers, parents and advocates have raised red flags over how social media can hurt children, but now the tech firms are being held to account via court rulings that could set long-lasting precedents. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'Affordability is the biggest thing' - Conservatives mixed on economy under Trump
Conservatives gathered at the annual CPAC conference in Texas were mixed when asked about their feelings on the current economy.
bbc.com
The spiky cactus fruit giving Indian farmers a cash boost
Indian farmers are turning to dragon fruit as a profitable alternative to mangoes and coffee.
bbc.com
Trump's signature to appear on US dollars in first for sitting president
The US president's signature will appear on new paper currency alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
bbc.com
Who knew Lord Sugar is a table tennis fan?
The Apprentice candidates try to sell a table tennis set live on TV.
bbc.com
JLR temporarily halts production at Solihull plant
Jaguar Land Rover pauses Range Rover production at its West Midlands factory due to supplier issue.
theguardian.com
NS&I boss forced out as bank faces £470m payout over missing savings
Pensions minister promises the ‘full truth’ as external advisers are hired to identify the scale of the errorsThe chief executive of the state-backed National Savings and Investments bank has been forced out over a scandal that left thousands of bereaved families owed almost £500m.The savings institution is in discussions with the Treasury to repay about 37,500 people who collectively have £470m in deposits trapped in the bank after long-running operational errors. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Middle East price shock hasn’t hit Next – yet | Nils Pratley
Timing lags in the retail industry mean the impact of fuel and fabric inflation may not be felt until autumn ranges landIn the context of Next, which has just reported full-year pre-tax profits of £1.16bn, an estimated £15m of extra fuel and air freight costs arising from the Middle East conflict is tiny. The sum, which in any case assumes disruption lasts three months, can be lost in the wash, or more precisely “offset by savings elsewhere”.The chief executive, Simon Wolfson, a boss who tends to err on the side of caution when guiding on profits, saw no reason not to add £8m to this year’s number as a mechanical read-through from last year’s outcome. If there wasn’t a war on, one can assume there would have been a proper profit upgrade. After all, trading seems to have been going like a train up until late-February – “encouraging” in the UK and “strong” overseas. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Elon Musk's X advertising boycott lawsuit dismissed by US judge
US District Judge Jane Boyle said the company had failed to show it had suffered any harm under federal competition laws.
theguardian.com
‘Tehran’s tollbooth’: a visual guide to how a trickle of ships still passes through strait of Hormuz
Many of the vessels willing to make the crossing are taking an alternative route through Iranian watersThreats to shipping have effectively closed the strait of Hormuz since the US-Israel war on Iran began four weeks ago – upending global oil and gas supplies and sending energy prices soaring.In normal times, tankers carry about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies through the narrow channel and on to the rest of the world, while about a third of the global fertilisers necessary for half of the world’s food production pass through in dry bulk vessels. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
What caused the NS&I missing savings errors and what to do if you’re affected
The state-owned savings bank owes nearly £500m to bereaved family members due to a long-running administrative problemNS&I boss replaced as bank faces record payout over missing savingsNational Savings & Investment (NS&I) owes nearly £500m in missing payments to bereaved families after it emerged a long-running administrative problem had stopped them gaining access to their money. On Thursday, its chief executive, Dax Harkins, was forced out amid the scandal.Here’s what has gone wrong at the state-owned savings bank. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
I’m losing my home through a no-fault eviction | Letter
One reader says the government has not done enough to protect tenants from section 21 notices despite years of assurancesRegarding your article on landlords issuing section 21 notices ahead of the upcoming ban on them (24 March), I am currently going through exactly this process. I am being forced out of my home through no fault of my own, after years of paying rent and doing everything expected of a “good” tenant. It turns out that being responsible is not protection, it is merely compliance before eviction.We have been told for years that no-fault evictions would be abolished. And yet here we are – a last-minute rush of notices, entirely predictable, entirely avoidable and entirely devastating for those of us on the receiving end. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Don't panic - five ways to stop your kids' endless scrolling
Parenting experts share their tips on how to keep children's screen time under control.
bbc.com
NS&I boss replaced as savers left waiting for millions of pounds
Pensions Minister Torston Bell said those affected would receive compensation "where appropriate".
cnbc.com
It’s not just oil and gas. The Strait of Hormuz blockage is rattling another vital commodity
“I'm a lot more concerned about the current crisis than I was when Russia-Ukraine happened four years ago,” one fund manager told CNBC.
theguardian.com
Two salon owners wanted to go zero-waste. Could they do it and keep their business afloat?
Scisters Salon & Apothecary in the San Diego area is committed to sustainable beauty and going low-wasteThe first thing you notice when you walk into Scisters Salon & Apothecary is what isn’t there. No wall of glossy plastic bottles promising “repair” or “shine”. No sharp chemical tang or aerosol haze. The only trash can is a tiny basket that mostly collects coffee cups and gum wrappers clients bring from home.Instead, the shelves of this southern California salon are lined with large refill containers of shampoo and conditioner, houseplants dot the space, hair clippings are swept away for compost, and the air carries a trace of bergamot and vanilla. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
British Airways to reward pilots for cutting fuel as airlines tackle higher costs
Jet fuel prices surged about 106% compared to a month ago, according to data from the week ending March 20 via the International Air Transport Association.
bbc.com
Port Talbot to become offshore wind hub for Celtic Sea
Port operator ABP will begin work on developing a facility to assemble and launch turbines out to sea.
bbc.com
'It took six years to receive my late father's premium bonds'
Readers contacted BBC Your Voice to say they not been able to claim funds from dead family members' premium bond investments.
bbc.co.uk
The Briefing Room
What are the reasons for the large number of young people without a job in the UK?
bbc.com
UK forecast to see biggest hit to growth from Iran war out of major economies
The OECD downgrades forecasts for many of the world's biggest economies due to the US-Israel war with Iran.
bbc.com
How to make the most of your Lifetime Isa
Martin Lewis explains that you can use your Lifetime Isa to buy with someone who has already bought.
bbc.com
Whisky giant drops plans for £150m facility in Ayrshire
Suntory Global Spirits did not give a reason for why the plan is not going ahead.
theguardian.com
Flights, fertilizer, mortgage rates: how the Iran war is raising more than just US gas prices
Oil is used to power the supply chain, from machines that manufacture a cellphone to diesel that powers a truckFertilizer. Phones and laptops. Flights. These are just some of the products made from or powered by crucial materials that ship through the strait of Hormuz, which still remains effectively closed due to the US-Israel war on Iran.As the war approaches its fifth week, global oil shortages are forcing countries to take severe measures to save their reserves as Iran continues to block oil shipments. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Co-op boss quits after 'toxic culture' claims reported by BBC
Shirine Khoury-Haq's departure comes after a troubled year, in which the retailer suffered a cyber-attack and faced allegations about its workplace culture.
theguardian.com
Marriage over, €100,000 down the drain: the AI users whose lives were wrecked by delusion
One minute, Dennis Biesma was playing with a chatbot; the next, he was convinced his sentient friend would make him a fortune. He’s just one of many people who lost control after an AI encounterTowards the end of 2024, Dennis Biesma decided to check out ChatGPT. The Amsterdam-based IT consultant had just ended a contract early. “I had some time, so I thought: let’s have a look at this new technology everyone is talking about,” he says. “Very quickly, I became fascinated.”Biesma has asked himself why he was vulnerable to what came next. He was nearing 50. His adult daughter had left home, his wife went out to work and, in his field, the shift since Covid to working from home had left him feeling “a little isolated”. He smoked a bit of cannabis some evenings to “chill”, but had done so for years with no ill effects. He had never experienced a mental illness. Yet within months of downloading ChatGPT, Biesma had sunk €100,000 (about £83,000) into a business startup based on a delusion, been hospitalised three times and tried to kill himself. Continue reading...
bbc.com
UK CO2 plant to reopen in Iran war contingency plan
The government will invest £100m to restart the Teesside site producing carbon dioxide, a key part of food and drink manufacturing.
bbc.com
'A game-changing moment for social media' - what next for big tech after landmark addiction verdict?
The ruling could be the beginning of the end of social media as we know it, writes the BBC's technology editor Zoe Kleinman.
theguardian.com
‘It dictated the whole atmosphere’: why some landlords are banning kids from pubs
Unruly behaviour, safety concerns and lost trade are forcing some landlords to act, but others argue pubs should remain for everyone“It was like the wild west. If you had an hour, I could talk you through so many scenarios,” says Egil Johansen, the landlord of the Kenton pub in Hackney, east London. He sounds exhausted just remembering them.Johansen is still shaken by the three-year-old who recently toddled behind the bar and tumbled down the cellar hatch while his parents sat, oblivious, in a different part of the pub. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Electronic warfare in the Persian Gulf: How GPS interference is disrupting the Middle East
Since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran on Feb. 28, interference with location-based services has disrupted life across the Persian Gulf.
bbc.com
Trump confirms May meeting with Xi Jinping as Iran war forces postponement
Trump's delayed meeting with Xi Jinping will be the first visit to China by a US president since 2017.
theguardian.com
‘It’s like having a friend everywhere you travel’: after 12 home exchanges, I’ll never book a hotel again
The Which? travel editor on the unexpected joys and considerable savings of house swapping. Plus top tips on how to do itImagine cutting the cost of accommodation on your next holiday to about £5 a day. You can have a whole house, rather than just a bedroom. And you can go almost anywhere in the world and stay as long as you like, within reason. Welcome to house swapping.You’re sceptical, I know. I was, too. Our terrace house was too small. Too overflowing with stuff. The 1980s kitchen was too old (and battered). We aren’t in a nice enough neighbourhood. Who would want to stay here? Lots of people, it turned out. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Is Cuba Trump’s next target? – podcast
The journalists Ruaridh Nicoll and Daniel Montero report from Havana as Cuba suffers from a devastating oil blockade imposed by the USWhen asked about Cuba by journalists last week, Donald Trump replied: ‘It may be a friendly takeover. It may not be a friendly takeover. It wouldn’t matter, because they’re really down to the fumes.’It was the only the latest in a series of increasingly belligerent statements from the White House about the island 90 miles off the Florida coast. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state and a Cuban-American himself, openly threatens Cuba’s communist leadership. Trump says ‘I can do anything I want with it’. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Rocket stocks soar on report Musk's SpaceX to file for share sale
Reports it plans the biggest listing ever sent the shares of firms in its orbit soaring in US trade on Wednesday.
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
The homeless teenager who became a successful advertising boss
Greg Daily has swapped sleeping on friends' sofas for running a popular digital marketing company.
bbc.com
Octopus boss: We've seen a 50% rise in solar panel sales since start of Iran war
The UK giant is optimistic but chief executive Greg Jackson tells the BBC he is making contingency plans.
theguardian.com
Big tech reckoning: Meta fined $375m in landmark case – The Latest
A court in the US has ordered Meta to pay $375m after a jury found that the company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, enabled harm including child sexual exploitation on its platforms. The landmark victory marks the first time the social media corporation has been successfully sued by a US state over child safety issues. Could it set a new precedent for holding big tech to account? Lucy Hough speaks to the investigative reporter Katie McQue. Continue reading...
bbc.com
UK inflation rate stays at 3% before Iran war hits oil prices
The speed of price rises in the UK has stayed the same, according to data which was collected before the US-Israel war with Iran began.
cnbc.com
What comes after Labubu? Inside Pop Mart’s next grow play
Pop Mart is betting on films, theme parks and global expansion to turn Labubu into a lasting franchise, even as the initial craze fades.
bbc.com
Would you build your own apps?
Start-ups are offering tech for novices to create apps with the help of AI.
bbc.com
US weight-loss drugmakers slash prices in fight to win customers
Weight-loss drug prices are falling in the US - but can the example be repeated?
bbc.com
Germany has a shortage of workers - so it's turning to India for help
The European nation, struggling to find skilled staff, is giving jobs to young people from India.
bbc.com
'Club vibes without the hangover': The twenty-somethings going out - in the gym
Young people are driving a gym boom as more fitness spaces are transformed into vibrant hangouts.
bbc.com
Home working, long leases and rise of parking apps - what went wrong for NCP
How could a company that charged as much as £65 for a day's parking fail to turn a profit?
bbc.com
Colombia's budding tech scene needs a cash boost
Colombia has become a tech hub for Latin America, but attracting investors is a challenge.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
bbc.com
How Finnish supermarkets are central to the country's defence
The chains all have detailed plans to follow in the event of the nation going to war.
bbc.com
Is it possible to build a plastic-free home?
Using plastic in construction is cheap and easy, but some are trying to radically cut back its use.
bbc.com
Ukraine's urgent fight on the financial frontline
The war-torn country is battling to secure crucial funding from the IMF and EU, as well as putting up taxes.
bbc.com
Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin?
The US said easing sanctions on Russian oil would provide only a limited financial boost to Putin.
bbc.com
Dharshini David: Economy on shaky ground even before Iran war
The government's hopes that 2026 would be the year when growth picks up are at risk of being scuppered.
bbc.com
Can plastic-eating fungi help clean up nappy waste?
Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
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